Hugging This Rock

In a new collection of poetry about life and war as a pilot, parent, and outdoor sports enthusiast, Northeastern Minnesota author Eric "Shmo" Chandler delivers plenty in laughs and love-of family, of country, and of navigating one's place in the world. Whether soaring at 40,000 feet, or carefully considering the flowers he encounters by the trail, his words are rich with insight and humor. Here's one of his poems: "I Can Already Hear It" Afterwards, the flags sprouted up like flowers, an explosion of unity. I was old enough to know they would tatter and fade like the public's passions. The magnets that support the troops would fall off the cars into the ditch. A good thing would turn into a demonstration of short attention spans. I could already see it. I sit at my breakfast table. I read National Geographic and crunch on some cereal. I'm old enough to know that the music drifting in from the other room won't last. My kids will grow up and leave home. The piano that I don't know how to play will fall silent. I can already hear it.